French Relative Pronouns: Qui, Que, Dont, Ou and Beyond

Relative pronouns are the glue that holds complex French sentences together. Without them, you are limited to simple, choppy structures. With them, you can build the kind of fluid, sophisticated sentences that earn B2 and C1 scores on TEF/TCF exams.

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Part 1: Why Relative Pronouns Matter

Compare:

• Without: "J'ai un ami. Cet ami habite a Paris."
• With: "J'ai un ami qui habite a Paris."

Relative pronouns let you combine two ideas into one elegant sentence. This is essential for Writing and Speaking on TEF/TCF.

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Part 2: QUI --- Subject of the Relative Clause

QUI replaces the subject of the second clause.

• "Le professeur qui enseigne le francais est sympathique." (The professor teaches French + The professor is nice.)
• "Les etudiants qui travaillent dur reussissent."
• "C'est un film qui m'a beaucoup plu."

Rule: QUI is ALWAYS followed directly by a verb (no subject between them). Note: QUI can refer to people AND things.

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Part 3: QUE (QU') --- Direct Object of the Relative Clause

QUE replaces the direct object of the second clause.

• "Le livre que j'ai lu est interessant." (I read the book + The book is interesting.)
• "La chanson **qu'**elle chante est magnifique."
• "Les amis que nous avons invites sont arrives."

Rule: QUE is followed by a subject + verb. Past Participle Agreement: With QUE, the past participle agrees with the antecedent.

• "Les lettres que j'ai ecrites..." (feminine plural)

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Part 4: DONT --- Replaces "de" + Something

DONT replaces an element introduced by de.

Use Case 1: Verbs with "de"

• Parler de → "Le sujet dont je parle..." (The subject I'm talking about)
• Avoir besoin de → "L'outil dont j'ai besoin..." (The tool I need)
• Se souvenir de → "Le jour dont je me souviens..."

Use Case 2: Possession (of which/whose)

• "L'homme dont la voiture est rouge..." (The man whose car is red.)
• "C'est un pays dont l'economie est en croissance."

Use Case 3: Part of a Larger Group

• "Il y a dix candidats, dont trois femmes." (Of whom three are women.)
• "J'ai lu plusieurs livres, dont celui de Camus."

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Part 5: OU --- Place and Time

OU replaces expressions of place or time.

Place:

• "La ville ou j'habite est petite." (The city where I live.)
• "Le restaurant ou nous avons dine..." (The restaurant where we dined.)

Time:

• "Le jour ou il est arrive..." (The day when he arrived.)
• "L'epoque ou tout etait different..." (The era when everything was different.)

Note: Do NOT confuse with "ou" (without accent) which means "or".

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Part 6: LEQUEL / LAQUELLE / LESQUELS / LESQUELLES

Used after prepositions (dans, sur, avec, pour, etc.) when referring to things (not people).

Contractions with "a" and "de":

• a + lequel = auquel
• a + lesquels = auxquels
• a + lesquelles = auxquelles
• de + lequel = duquel
• de + lesquels = desquels
• de + lesquelles = desquelles

Note: "a + laquelle" does NOT contract.

Examples:

• "La table sur laquelle j'ai pose mon sac..." (The table on which...)
• "Le projet auquel je participe..." (The project in which I participate.)
• "Les raisons pour lesquelles il est parti..." (The reasons for which...)

For People: Use QUI after prepositions

• "La personne avec qui je travaille..."
• "L'ami pour qui j'ai achete ce cadeau..."

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Part 7: CE QUI / CE QUE / CE DONT / CE A QUOI

These refer to an idea or concept (not a specific noun).

• Ce qui (subject): "Ce qui m'inquiete, c'est la pollution." (What worries me...)
• Ce que (object): "Ce que je veux, c'est la paix." (What I want...)
• Ce dont (de + something): "Ce dont j'ai besoin, c'est du repos." (What I need...)
• Ce a quoi (a + something): "Ce a quoi je pense..." (What I'm thinking about...)

These are EXTREMELY useful for speaking exams:

• "Ce qui est important, c'est de..."
• "Ce que je voudrais souligner, c'est que..."

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Part 8: Common Errors

1. Confusing QUI and QUE: QUI = subject (followed by verb), QUE = object (followed by subject).
2. Forgetting DONT: Many learners say "la personne que je parle de" instead of "la personne dont je parle."
3. Forgetting past participle agreement with QUE: "Les fleurs que j'ai achetees" (not "achete").
4. Using "ou" without accent for place: "Le pays ou j'habite" needs the accent: "Le pays ou j'habite."

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Conclusion

Relative pronouns transform your French from a collection of simple sentences into fluid, connected prose. Master QUI, QUE, DONT, and OU for B1-B2. Add LEQUEL and CE QUI/CE QUE for C1. Practice combining short sentences into complex ones, and your Writing and Speaking scores will jump.